Device for boat propulsion, steering and reversing of same



Nov. 13, 1962 w. c. AUBREY 3,063,403

DEVICE FOR BOAT PROPULSION, STEERING AND REVERSING 0F SAME Filed June14, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM C; AUBREY BY wauz 7-Q/W l91 Nov. 13, 1962 w. c. AUBREY DEVICEFOR BOAT PROPULSION, STEERING AND REVERSING OF SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed June 14, 1961 INVENTOR. WILLIAM c. AUBREY YSIJP;

FIG.4.

3,063,403 Patented Nov. 13, 1962 3,063,403 DEVICE FOR BOAT PROPULSION,STEERING AND REVERSING OF SAME William C. Aubrey, Schenectady, .N.Y.,assignor of onefifth to Murray M. Jaros, Albany, N.Y Filed June 14,1961, Ser. No. 117,066 1 Claim. (Cl. 11535) This invention relates to adevice for boat propulsion, steering and reversing of same to beutilized for pleasure craft, boats and the like.

In conventional outboard motors, drive results from the use of apropeller located beneath the surface of the water.

The problems in the art are the recurring factor of broken shear pinsupon those occasions when the propeller engages a foreign object otherthan the water, the weight factor arising out of the use of reversinggears and housing of same for reverse drive,'thefactor of limitabilityof operation range arising out of the necessity of water of sufficientdepth for engagement by the drive propeller and the factor of safetypresent with a whirling propeller and when the boat is used for waterskiing, as examples of this latter factor.

An object therefore of this invention is to eliminate the factor of theconventional propeller that is wont to engage foreign objects, such assubmerged tree stumps, by the elimination of the submerged propeller.

Another object of this invention is to eliminate the weight factor ofthe reverse drive train and housing for same in the outboard motor byeliminating the reverse gearing and housing for same.

A further object of this invention is to greatly increase and extend therange of operation of pleasure craft and boats by providing a devicewhose range of operation is limited to only minimal water depth andwhich further has no projections below the plane of the bottom of theboat.

A still further object of this invention is a completely safe device forboat propulsion wherein parents need not be concerned with the capricesof their small children respecting the conventionally exposed whirlingpropeller.

These objects and further objects of this invention should beappreciated from the detailed specification in conjunction with thedrawings, in which the reference numerals refer to similar parts, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an isometric projection of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the device showing the steering and thereversing mechanisms;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device showing portions of the steering andthe reversing mechanisms;

FIG. 4 is a top view showing the base plate and upstream inlet.

The device generally referred to by 1 has a base plate 3 to which issecured two lateral plates 5. Two transom arms 7 depend from theirrespective lateral plates and cooperate with transom clamps 9 to securethe device to the transom of the boat (not shown). Secured to thelateral plates 5 is transom arm reinforcement member 1 1 to providestructural rigidity to the lateral plates 5 and transom arms 7 Assecured to the boat base plate 3 does not project below the plane of thebottom of the boat. An upstream inlet 13, shown more clearly in FIG. 4,is provided in base plate 3 to allow entrance of the water in theoperation of the device. A suitable screen (not shown) can be securedover the upstream inlet 13 to prevent the entrance of foreign objectsinto the upstream inlet duct 15.

This upstream inlet duct is secured to the edges of the upstream inlet13 provided in base plate 3 and rises angularly to the uppermost portionof propeller 17 and with the lowermost portion-of propeller 17 theupstream inlet duct 15 terminates as a circular cowling for thepropeller '17. It should be appreciated that the configuration of theupstream inlet duct 15 provides a closed system for conducting waterfrom the upstream inlet 13 to the propeller 17. It should be furtherappreciated that suitable inlet guide vanes may be utilized withinupstream inlet duct 15 to improve the flow distribution to the propeller17.

Along with propeller 17 is shown propeller drive shaft housing 19,propeller drive shaft 211 and propeller housing seal and support 23. Thepropeller housing seal and support 23 is utilized to prevent upwardmovement of upstream inlet duct 15 and to provide a tight seal forpropeller drive shaft housing 19 with respect to the conformablyconfiguredcut out portion in the upstream inlet duct 15 for reception ofthe propeller drive shaft housing 19.

Propeller drive shaft 21 is received within the propeller drive shaftnotch 25 formed in the transom arm reinforcement member 11. On each sideof propeller drive shaft notch 25 are propeller drive shaft clampreceivers 27 for the purpose of securing the propeller drive shaft 21 tothe device by means of a suitable clamp (not shown).

From the downstream portion of the device or outward from the propeller'17, the lateral plates 5 extend angularly outward and are referred toas downstream lateral plates 31. Reinforcement members 29 conformablyconfigured and secured to the lateral plates 5 and the downstreamlateral plates 31 provide structural rigidity for same.

Downstream outlet duct 33 having its extreme outward portion similarlyconfigured to the extreme ou-tward portion of base plate 3 is suitablysecured and configured to the cowling portion of unpstream inlet duct 15at propeller 17 It should be appreciated that suitable dewhirler vanesdownstream of the propeller 17 can be utilized to straighten the flow ofthe water and thereby improve the performance of the device.

Reinforcement cross support member 35 is secured at 37 to thereinforcement members 29. Reversing baffle guide rods 39 are securedlikewise at 37 and at 41 to base plate 3. Reversing baffle 43 has areversing bafile reinforcement member 45 secured to the mid portionthereof for the purpose of imparting structural rigidity to thereversing baffle 43.

Reversing bafile sleeves 47 secured to the reversing baffle 43 areprovided for reciprocation within the limits of the reversing bafiieguide rods 39.

Crankshaft 49 mounted within two bushings 51 secured to downstreamlateral plates 31 has squared end portions 53 extending from thebushings 51 to which squared end portions 51 are secured bell cranks 55having slots 57 therein for engagement with pins 59 secured to the upperportions of the reversing baffie sleeves 47 thereby by means of arms 61pivotally mounted with respect to hell cranks 55 at 63 providing uponreciprocation of arms 61 by a suitable tension cable system (not shown)controlled reciprocation of reversing baflle 43.

Two steering vanes hinge members 65 secured by screws 67 on each side ofthe lateral portions of the downstream outlet duct 33 carry steeringvane hinge member sleeves 69. Two steering vane sleeves 71 are securedto the two steering vanes 73 mounted for lateral movements within thedownstream portion of the device by means of two rods 75 suitablysecured to steering vane sleeves 7'1 but freely movable within steeringvane hinge member sleeves 69.

The squared end portions 77 of the steering vane rods 75 allow bellcranks 79 to be secured therewith. The ends of an adjustable member 81pivotally mounted at 83 to the arms of the bell cranks 79 permit ofequal angular lateral movement of the steering vanes 73.

Two arms 85 pivotally mounted with respect to the bell cranks 79 at 87permit of controlled lateral movement of the steering vanes 73 by meansof a suitable tension cable system (not shown).

Reversing bafiie top portion 89 and reversing bafile bottom portion 91are complementarily configured to the respective downstream end portionsof downstream outlet duct 33 and base plate 3.

Upon being mounted on the transom of the boat as heretofore describedand drive having been transmitted to the propeller 17, which acts as animpeller in this device, water is drawn through upstream inlet 13 andconducted by means of upstream inlet duct 15 to propeller 17. Propeller17 forces the water outwardly downstream thereby transmitting forwardmotion to the boat.

In the forward motion of the boat the reversing baffie 43 will of coursebe raised in order not to impede the water forced outwardly by thepropeller 17. Steering of the boat is controlled by use of the steeringvanes 73.

Reversing movement of the boat is effected by downward movement ofreversing baffie 43. The water will then be forced against reversingbafile 43 to the sides thereof thereby resulting in the rearwardmovement of the boat.

The steering vanes 73 can in fact be utilized with reversing baflle 43to effect a steered rearward movement of the boat.

It should further be appreciated that this device can be used to convertexisting outboard motors to the impeller device of the presentinvention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

In a device attachable as a unit to a boat to provide propulsion,steering and reversing of same, comprising a base plate lyingsubstantially in the plane of the bottom of the boat with which saiddevice is utilized, said base plate having an upstream inlet forentrance of water in a closed upstream inlet duct to an impellerdischarging water downstream and thereby providing propulsion for theboat, the downstream portion of said base plate and a downstream outletduct providing direction to the discharge of water from said impeller;vertically arranged steering vanes having an adjustable member pivotallymounted therebetween movable in a plane normal to the plane of said baseplate to direct lateral discharge of water from said impeller therebysteering said boat, said steering vanes being pivotally mounted withrespect to said downstream outlet duct; and a reversing bafflereciprocable in a direction normal to the plane of said base plate, thelateral terminal portions of said reversing baffie having sleeves forreciprocation upon guide rods secured downstream of said device, withcontrolled reciprocation thereof provided by bell crank having slots fordriving engagement with pins secured to said sleeves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS849,176 Thormeyer Apr. 2, 1907 915,255 Weisz Mar. 16, 1909 1,498,919Jensen June 24, 1924 2,024,274 Campini Dec. 17, 1935 2,328,939 XiquesSept. 7, 1943 2,528,608 Rickard Nov. 7, 1950 2,548,121 Reid Apr. 10,1951 2,655,891 Gorski Oct. 20, 1953 2,812,738 Munro Nov. 12, 1959

